Imaging apparatus

Abstract

A surveillance camera which may communicate with a client apparatus via a network includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a server configured to receive a command for instructing enlargement of a dynamic range by synthesizing a plurality of images generated by the image capturing unit from the client apparatus via the network, a dark compensation unit configured to set an exposure condition of the image capturing unit and acquire data of one image generated by imaging a subject by the image capturing unit under the set exposure condition, and a command processing unit configured to cause the dark compensation unit to operate in a case where a command is received by the server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging apparatus which communicates with an external apparatus via a network, the imaging apparatus comprising:
 an image capturing unit configured to image a subject;   a receiving unit configured to receive a first control command for synthesizing a plurality of images to enlarge a dynamic range;   an image processing unit configured to perform compensation processing on an exposure of an image without synthesizing a plurality of images;   a control unit configured to control the image processing unit if the receiving unit receives the first control command; and   a transmitting unit configured to transmit a no error response to the external apparatus via the network.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether the first control command received by the receiving unit designates an enlargement level of a dynamic range or not, wherein
 the control unit automatically sets a compensation level of the image processing unit if the determination unit determines that the enlargement level is not designated.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an acquiring unit configured to acquire a compensation level of the image processing unit corresponding to the level designated by the first control command if the determination unit determines that it is designated,
 wherein the control unit controls the image processing unit based on the compensation level acquired by the acquiring unit.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether the first control command received by the receiving unit designates 0 as an enlargement level of a dynamic range, wherein
 the control unit automatically sets a compensation level of the image processing unit if the determination unit determines that it is designated.   
     
     
         5 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control unit controls the image processing unit based on a compensation level if the receiving unit receives a second control command including set values for the image processing unit and if the set values for the image processing unit in the second control command includes the compensation level; and   a range that may be designated based on a compensation level included in the second control command is different from a range that may be designated based on a compensation level acquired by the acquiring unit.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control unit controls the image processing unit based on a compensation level if the receiving unit receives a second control command including set values for the image processing unit and if the set values for the image processing unit in the second control command includes the compensation level; and   a maximum compensation level may be designated based on a compensation level included in the second control command is different from a maximum compensation level may be designated based on a compensation level acquired by the acquiring unit.   
     
     
         7 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 if the first control command and the second control command including a compensation value of the image processing unit are received and if the determination unit determines that one of a level and a compensation level is designated in one of the control commands and the one of the level and the compensation level is not designated in the other control command,   
       the control unit sets, as a compensation level for the image processing unit, one of a compensation level corresponding to the level designated by the first control command and a compensation level included in the second control command. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 if the first control command and the second control command including a compensation value of the image processing unit are received and if a level and a compensation level are designated in both of the control commands,   
       the control unit sets, as a compensation level for the image processing unit, a larger compensation level of a compensation level corresponding to the level designated by the first control command and a compensation level included in the second control command. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit a set value for controlling the image processing unit as a set value regarding enlargement of a dynamic range to the external apparatus via the network if a command for acquiring the set value regarding enlargement of the dynamic range is received by the receiving unit. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein if a compensation level for a set value for controlling the image processing unit is automatically set, a set value regarding enlargement of the dynamic range excluding a compensation level regarding enlargement of the dynamic range is transmitted. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein if a compensation level for a set value for controlling the image processing unit is automatically set, a set value regarding enlargement of the dynamic range having zero as a compensation level regarding enlargement of the dynamic range is transmitted. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein if a compensation level for a set value for controlling the image processing unit is set, 
       a set value regarding enlargement of the dynamic range is transmitted. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit a settable value regarding the image processing unit as a settable value regarding enlargement of a dynamic range to the external apparatus via the network if a command for acquiring the set value regarding enlargement of the dynamic range is received by the receiving unit. 
     
     
         14 . An imaging system comprising an imaging apparatus which communicates with an external apparatus via a network, wherein
 the external apparatus has   
       a command transmitting unit configured to transmit a first control command for synthesizing a plurality of images to enlarge a dynamic range; and
 the imaging apparatus has 
 an image capturing unit configured to image a subject; 
 an image processing unit configured to perform compensation processing on an exposure of an image without synthesizing a plurality of images; 
 a control unit configured to control the image processing unit if the first control command is received; and 
 a transmitting unit configured to transmit a no error response to the external apparatus via the network. 
 
     
     
         15 . A control method for an imaging apparatus which communicates with an external apparatus via a network and has an image capturing unit and an image processing unit configured to perform compensation processing on an exposure of an image without synthesizing a plurality of images, the method comprising:
 receiving a first control command for synthesizing a plurality of images to enlarge a dynamic range;   controlling the image processing unit if the receiving receives the first control command; and   transmitting a no error response to the external apparatus via the network.   
     
     
         16 . A computer program causing a computer to execute the control method according to  claim 15 . 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to  claim 16 .